Earth’s vital signs: Millenium ecosystem assessment (2005)

Ethics of ecology: Ego- versus Ecocentric

Are humans apex predators?

4 major categories of ecosystem services





  • Provisioning services


  • Regulating services


  • Cultural services


  • Supporting services

Provisioning services: Raw materials




















Forest Service economists estimated the minimum value of water from National Forest System lands to be $3.7 billion per year

Regulating services: Natural ecosystem processes

Case study: Pollination

Cultural services: Non-material benefits (health & well-being)

Supporting services: Underlying natural processes